BLOOD DRIVE: 2:30-7 p.m., New Hope Presbyterian Church, 4357 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia. Donors will be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 gift card from a home improvement store. For an appointment, call Jane, 704-825-2583. For more information on donating blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

WE R FORGIVEN IN CONCERT: 6 p.m., The Country Kitchen, 116 E. Main St., Dallas.

WEDNESDAY

FREE SIMPLE WILLS, LIVING WILLS, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SENIORS: Gaston County Senior Center, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Highway, Dallas. For Gaston County seniors of low to moderate means. Offered by Legal Aid of North Carolina. Space limited. Call 877-579-7562 to apply.

GASTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN: Noon, City Club of Gastonia, 532 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia. Kevin Spalding, the president of the Gastonia Toastmasters Club will be the guest speaker. He will share techniques for effective communication. A lunch buffet is available for $12. For lunch reservations, contact Gayle Walker, thunderbirdsone@bellsouth.net.

TRYON RESOLVES CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: 3 p.m., First United Methodist, 601 N. Pink St., Cherryville. Historian Robert Carpenter will be the guest speaker. He is a genealogy expert and author of the book, “Carpenter’s A Plenty.”

WIDOWED GROUP OF THE GREATER GASTON AREA: 6:30-7:30 p.m. , Gaston County Citizens Resource Center,1303 Dallas-Cherryville Hwy., Dallas. Doors open at 6 p.m. Gospel music by Marty Vanderlip. Refreshments served after the program. There is no charge. Love offering appreciated. For more information, call 704-865-5663.

FRIDAY

ABRAMS BROTHERS IN CONCERT: 7:30 p.m., First Assembly, 777 S. Myrtle School Road, Gastonia, presented by the Gaston Concert Association. The Canadian band is known for their own blend of bluegrass Americana and root music. The group features brothers, John and James Abrams, joined by their cousin, Elijah Abrams. Tickets for the concert cost $45 for adults and that price also includes admission to the four concerts in the 2013-’14 season. Reduced prices of $15 are available for high school and college students. Children in grades K-12 are admitted free with an adult. The upcoming season will feature Bach to the Future, a classical and jazz quartet; the Gothard Sisters, performing Irish dance, fiddle and song; Charlotte Bronze, a handbell ensemble; and Amantha Hill, a vocal/instrumental act. Call 704-867-7166.

COMMUNITY-WIDE BREAKFAST BUFFET : 7-10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 601 N. Pink St., Cherryville, in the church fellowship hall. Donations will be accepted and the public is invited. You can get more information by calling the church office, 704-435-6732.

QUICK-QUILTED PLACEMAT CLASS: 3-5 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m., Feb. 28 at the Lucile Tatum Home Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia. Choose from one of the two sessions. The cost is $5 per person and the class will be taught by Marsha McLamb, a member of the Quiltmakers ECA – Extension and Community Association. Proceeds will benefit the project room fund.

SOUTH POINT BAPTIST STREET FAIR: 7 a.m.-noon March 2, 124 Horsley Ave., Belmont. The sale will include used electronics, toys, furniture, home and kitchen items, clothes and baby items. Biscuits will be sold from 7 to 10 a.m. and hot dogs from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 704-825-9516.

SECOND BLESSINGS ANNUAL SPRING CONSIGNMENT SALE: 7-11 a.m. March 2, Carpenter Hall, First United Methodist Church, 807 South Point Road. Items will be half price from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Calling the church office, 704-825-2106 or Lori Hanafin, 704-689-0404.

BARBECUE SALE: 10 a.m. March 8, New Life Baptist, 614 S. 11 th St., Bessemer City. Plates cost $7 each. Dine in or carryout available. Delivery is being offered for orders of five plates or more. Call 704-629-6892 or 704-747-5576.

MISS MOUNT HOLLY PAGEANT : 3 p.m. March 10, East Gaston High School, 1744 Lane Road, Mount Holly. The pageant is open to girls ages 17 to 24 who live, go to school or work full-time in Gaston, Meckenburg, Lincoln, Cleveland and Union counties. Categories include personal interview; swimsuit, talent and evening gown. The young woman crowned Miss Mount Holly 2013 will receive a $1,000 scholarship. There is no entry fee to compete in the pageant. Also taking place on March 10 is the Miss Mount Holly Outstanding Teen Pageant, open to girls ages 13 to 16. The entry fee for the teen pageant is $125. Organizers are also sponsoring a Carolina Princess Program in conjunction with the pageant. Each contestant will crown a girl between the ages 6-12 in this mentoring program. Each participant will receive a crown, pizza party and be on stage with all the contestants. The fee is $50. This is not a competition. The deadline to enter is Feb. 24. Contact Debbie McCaleb, executive director, 980-833-1562 or e-mail missmounthollypageant@yahoo.com. You can also follow the organization on Facebook at missmounthollypageant.

Page 3 of 4 - BARBECUE SALE: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. March 15, Grace Baptist, 2200 Auten Road, Gastonia, sponsored by the Grace Baptist and Community Senior Adults. Cost is $7 per plate and delivery is available for orders of 10 plates or more. The group will use proceeds for activities. Call 704-671-4338 or 704-865-9226.

WHALE OF THE SALE: 6 a.m.-noon March 16, Gastonia Farmers Market, 410 E. Long Ave., Gastonia, presented by the Junior League of Gaston County. Billed as the county’s largest thrift sale, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Junior League’s Y-Life Program. If you have items you’d like to donate, they can be dropped off at Art’s Desire on Hoffman Road in Gastonia. Admission to the fundraiser is $1 in advance or $2 at the door.

BELMONT CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD BANQUET: 8 p.m. March 19, Park Street Methodist Family Life Center, Park Street and Catawba Street, Belmont, presented by the Belmont Historical Society. The banquet is held yearly to honor a worthy citizen chosen from Belmont or the surrounding Belmont area for their outstanding service to the Belmont citizens and community. Nominations may be made and submitted to the Selection Committee of the Belmont Historical Society by citizens of the Belmont community. Nominating forms are available at the Belmont Historical Society, 40 Catawba Street, Belmont, or by calling 704-825-4848. Information by phone is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday or from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Tickets for the event will be available several weeks prior to the banquet. Call 704-825-4848 for ticket information.

CHARLOTTE YOUTH BALLET PRESENTS “THE WIZARD OF OZ”: 10 a.m. March 22, Knight Theater, 430 S. Tyron Street, Charlotte, an original ballet created by Gay Porter with music by the late Loonis McGlohon. Other performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. March 23; and 2:30 p.m. March 24. Tickets range in price from $8 to $25. Call 704-372-1000 or visit charlotteyouthballet.org or tixcarolinatix.org.

RIDER SKILLS DAY: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 23, Gastonia Police Department, 200 E. Long St. The day will involve training in the classroom and on the streets. Topics will include motorcycle control and factors that contribute to collisions. Participants will get an assessment of their present skills and advice from the department’s motorcycle officers. After getting feedback and instruction, the on-street assessment will be repeated and more feedback offered. The day is made possible through the BikeSafe North Carolina, a program to make riding in North Carolina safer and more enjoyable. Anyone interested in participated in the March 23 event can register online at bikesafe.com or by calling 704-854-6665.

HOUSE OF MERCY WALK FOR AIDS: April 13, starting with registration at 9:30 a.m. m. at the stone shelter on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont. This is the 20th annual walk which raises awareness about AIDS and money for the nonprofit residence which serves low-income person living with the disease. The three-mile walk will take participants through downtown Belmont. Walkers collect donations in support of their walk. The first 250 walkers who raise $50 or more will receive a free Walk for AIDS T-shirt. A picnic lunch and music will follow the walk on the House of Mercy grounds. For more information visit www.thehouseofmercy.org. You’ll find a map of the route, a donation form and team information, as well as information on the House of Mercy.